Match of the Week: Heald (Bedford) vs. Poulin (Salem)

BEDFORD – The Bedford High School wrestling team might be new to Division I, but junior Bobby Heald knew there weren’t going to be any surprises when he took the mat for his match last Wednesday against Salem’s Michael Poulin.

The two had met before, twice at the 2014 Meet of Champions, when both were in the 220 bracket. Poulin took the first match that day, but in the consolation final, Heald pinned Poulin to take third and advance to the New England Regionals.

“I saw him for the first time at MOCs last year and he beat me,” Heald said. “Then I saw him again for the third-place match and I pinned him for third. That was a really intense match going in and I knew it was going to be a battle.”

As Bedford’s starter at 285, Heald knew he had a size advantage going into this year’s match and did his best to take advantage of it.

“I think he bumped up to wrestle me, so I was using what I had against him,” Heald said. “I was kind of focused on that I’ve wrestled the kid before and I know I’m better on top, holding him down.”

Heald took a 2-1 lead in the first period and appeared to be in control of the match late in the second when Poulin was awarded a point to tie it. It was still tied in the third when Heald was able to take over.

“I was focused on keeping him down and getting my one (point) when I’m on the bottom,” Heald said. “When we’re on our feet, I’m working at defending his shots. He got more than I did, but I did a good job defending it.”

Heald is off to a good start this season, with wins in both of Bedford’s dual meets, plus tournament victories in both the ConVal Early Bird and the Hollis Brookline Nor’Easter.

“We feel pretty good,” Heald said about the Bulldogs transition to Division I. “Last year, we were at the top of D2 and we felt like maybe we were a borderline Division I team. We lost a bunch of seniors, but we have a good looking team and we have younger guys stepping up like crazy.”